Copyright 13 March 1953 by Columbia Pictures Corp. (In notice: 1952). No New York opening. U.S. release: April 1953. U.K. release: 20 April 1953. Australian release: 3 February 1955 (sic). 6,822 feet. 75 minutes.

SYNOPSIS: A Southerner, fighting in the Union army, is framed as a spy.

COMMENT: With plenty of action and sufficiently fast-moving to satisfy undemanding fans, this one also managed to capture good reviews. True, it's shot in pleasing, if not particularly artistic color, and boasts more production values than your average Katzman "B". Though the introductory sequence is reprised (no doubt for the benefit of latecomers),there is little if any stock footage, even though a large number of costumed extras battle and chase each other (occasionally with running inserts) across real location countrysides.

Frequent changes of set and locale add to the fast pace which helps to offset the pulp novel story with its limited characterizations and elemental plot. The film would also have risen to higher entertainment heights with a couple of more personable villains. Yes, it's surprising to see Wild Bill Hickok as the treacherous heavy, but Douglas Kennedy is not all that convincing. Not that he is the worst actor in the piece, although all the support players here are definitely a fourth-rate bunch (including Gene Roth in a one-shot bit as the prosecutor). The embarrassingly wooden Jay Silverheels takes that honor. The girl is okay, though bland. Her role is rather small anyway. Montgomery has a bit of presence, though obviously doubled for his fights and stuntwork.

Despite all the action, sets and crowds, and director Salkow's admirably fast pacing, "Jack McCall" offers little more than the least demanding audience might expect. Unless you're a rabid Western or Montgomery fan, the impression you take away with you will most likely be be bland and unmemorable.

A good-looking Columbia Technicolor western with a Civil War backdrop that for some reason calls it's central antagonists Jack McCall and Wild Bill Hickok.

Aside from being set in the wrong decade, viewers who saw Porter Hall or Lon Chaney as McCall would be surprised to see this new handsome and upright incarnation by George Montgomery. Somebody involved in the production must have seen a photograph of Hickok, since Douglas Kennedy in the role has the only authentic Wild West moustache in the film.

Mixing the historical characters and locations with the myth has been done many times, and this fast-paced western is no different. Hickock is the villain of the piece, which itself is interesting, but there are unusual elements such as the leading lady, who isn't your usual run of the mill heroine who is there for the romantic scenes. She's up there with hero, the usual stalwart, George Montgomery, jumping off stagecoaches and getting involved in hold-up. A solid B western with an energetic shootout finale.